03:20 PM EDT, 09/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 0.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was shedding 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was advancing 1.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was steady at $68.97 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract eased 0.1% to $71.88 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures dropped 2.3% to $2.30 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni (E) is looking at selling a minority stake in its Plenitude renewable and retail business unit and is in talks with several funds for a deal, Reuters reported Friday. Eni shares rose 1.2%.